Waves Flashcards
Medium
A substance through which a wave moves
Mechanical wave
A wave, such as a sound wave or a seismic wave, that transfers kinetic energy through matter
Transverse wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves at right angles
Longitudinal wave
A type of which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels
Crest
The highest point, or peak, of a wave
Trough
The lowest point, or valley, of a wave
Amplitude
The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position
Wavelength
The distance from one wave peak or crest to the next peak or crest
Frequency
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time
Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between two mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees
Diffraction
The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an obstacle
Interference
The meeting and combining of waves
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance
